Arizona Republic: For the thousandth time, the Toyota principle is that prices are set by the market, therefore Profit = Price – Cost. The old industrial mindset was a “cost plus” approach where Price = Cost + Profit. This quote…
Aerospace Notebook Interesting glimpse into Boeing’s “moving line” efforts. They were very successful in cutting cycle times on the 737 program, but not without some significant pain. This article claims the 777 moving line transition has been difficult so far.…
Press Release Looks like great work by the Boeing 737 team! “We’re not going to stop at a 50 percent reduction, but improving our production system isn’t just about doing things fast. It’s about doing everything better, continuously enhancing the…
Why do so many quality programs fall apart the moment the firefighter walks out the door? In this conversation, Chad Diggs talks about his new book, Below the Surface, and what it takes to build quality systems that outlast the people who…
In March 2007, Jim Womack told me about his biggest disappointment. The Machine That Changed the World had been out for more than sixteen years, sold around a million copies, and was about to be reissued with an updated subtitle:…
TL;DR: The eight wastes give you a lens for seeing problems — but Lean isn’t a scavenger hunt for waste. The real work is understanding why waste exists and building systems where people feel safe enough to point it out.…
One of the most overlooked–and most powerful–principles in Lean management is also the very first principle of the Toyota Way: “Base your management decisions on a long-term philosophy, even at the expense of short-term financial goals.” This principle is foundational.…
It is with deep sadness that I share the news of Bob Rush‘s passing. Here is his obituary. Bob was a friend. He was quite simply, a good dude. I always enjoyed our conversations–whether in person or virtually. Sadly, the…
This edition of Ryan McCormack’s Operational Excellence Mixtape examines how leadership choices, system design, and culture determine whether organizations improve–or drift toward failure. From lessons on AI and employability, Boeing’s systemic safety breakdowns, and operating processes on the brink of…
TL;DR: Red metrics aren’t always bad–or even meaningful. Fear-based reactions to red drive blame and wasted effort. Lean leaders learn to distinguish signal from noise using better metrics, better thinking, and a deeper understanding of variation. Red is a color…
Thanks, as always, to Ryan McCormack for this. He always shares so much good reading, listening, and viewing here! Subscribe to get these directly from Ryan via email. News, articles, books, podcasts, and videos about how to make the workplace…
Thanks, as always, to Ryan McCormack for this. He always shares so much good reading, listening, and viewing here! Subscribe to get these directly from Ryan via email. News, articles, books, podcasts, and videos about how to make the workplace…